Stop watching cable news!

[Nightjock]

I have heard that mantra consistently since I found DU a few years ago. At first I did not think it was possible to NOT watch.

Obviously many of you feel the same way because every time I come here I see an ocean of OH MY GOD "Tweety said this' and "Wolf is an asshat!"

But I did stop watching a year and a half ago and (I can't stress this enough)I am much happier for it.

Turn that shit off and stop freaking out!!!

NOT WATCHING is the best thing you can do!!!

If you are a regular DU reader you will be 3 days ahead of the news and if you want an honest and informative look at politics on the boob tube watch The Daily Show.

Yes, I said it. A comedy show is more informative than CNN, Faux and Msnbc combined!

How sad is that?!

Rant over...

[Mojambo]

1. Best advice in the history of the world

I've been off cable news for over a year.

Why people do it to themselves I'll never understand.

If you need to know what they're saying make a trip to media matters a couple of times a day.

[Ramsey]

2. I took your advice

In 1999. Over the abysmal coverage of the theft of the presidency.

Haven't missed those asswipes and their lies one bit. Get all my news off the Net.

[AX10]

3. CNN=MSNBC=FOX=CNN=MSNBC=FOX

get it. They'll all the same.

[JeffR]

4. So true

But I'm in that strange masochistic camp that needs to know what so-called credible news outlets are reporting, so I can understand how uninformed people remain uninformed. Useless knowledge, maybe, but I'm having a hell of a time understanding what the fuck has happened to this country, and watching (a very small amount of this) crap does give me some insight.

[JuniperLea]

5. Pft!

There's not a chance I want to live this life blind!

I need to know what the enemy is saying/lying about many things. Strategic planning requires it.

I may not like it, but I'll watch. It's like when you are four and you have to eat your veggies.

[JeffR]

7. Like Juniperx said

Way better than I did.

:toast:

[Nitrogenica]

6. How to block Faux news...

http://www.foxblocker.com/

Using this website, you can become a FOXBlocker.....someone who has forced the cable company to block FOX News. By sharing this site with your friends and family, you can earn cool FOXBlocker gear.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

8. I Agree 300%

Unfortunately the people here who insist on watching, and then insist on posting about how "frustrated" they are, and how they "can't believe" what he said, will continue to watch. Even though it makes absolutely zero sense to me. I mean, would you listen to Rush for 3 hours, just so you can hear how Fucked up his ideas are? Then why listen to hacks like Tweety or Wolf, when you know it's not going to meet with your liking 80+% of the time?

[JeffR]

16. OK, but...

There are some of us who subject ourselves to this crud, not so we can post about our frustration, but so we can get a better understanding of the hurdles we face in bringing America back to its senses. Of course they're hacks, but they reach a lot (alright, a dwindling lot) who don't or can't get their info from more credible, objective sources.

If the country is to be taken back, it's important to know what that country is and how it got this way.

That's an understanding that wading through some of this assinine trash can help us attain. It just takes a strong stomach.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

9. I try to only watch Olbermann now or when I know they're attacking BushCo.

Definitely NO Tweety... THAT alone has improved my mental health greatly.

[Nightjock]

13. Thats right!

I can't believe I forgot about Olberman! He is another one who tells the truth. Thanks!

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

20. How Many Shows Attack Shrub?

Other than Olbermann, Daily Show, and perhaps Letterman. Other than Countdown, no "news" show has bashed him for a single god damned thing in the last 5 years.

[ktowntennesseedem]

10. I won't give up Obermann, but other than that...

I only watch cable news when I'm feeling constipated.

[Cobalt Violet]

11. No cable or dish here.

I don't miss it at all. I can still stream cspan if I want. I plan to watch today's Conyers hearing at some point. I had to miss it today.

[jedr]

12. Yes, it looks like CNN is about to do;

A turn to the hard right....Lou Dobbs seemed more like Fox tonight than CNN. Apparently the repubs are in deep do do, and see fit to put into place their version of Pravda. Back to my local station for headlines , sports and weather....It's going to be a long winter in more ways than one!:shrug:

[Andromeda]

14. We can't bury our heads in the sand.

Whether we like it or not we have to know what kind of garbage the Republicans are trying to poison us with so we can counter it. We have to fight back even if it's uncomfortable.

Being ignorant may be bliss but it's only an illusion. Things aren't going to get better if we let them get away with it.

[Mojambo]

17. You don't have to watch to find out what they're saying.

There are plenty of great websites that watch this garbage and then present it along with the actual truth. Much better way of proceeding than by actually watching.

If you want to watch that's fine, but those of us who aren't watching are not doing it to remain ignorant. There are just more tolerable ways of exposing yourself to this trash.

[sendero]

34. Exactly..

.... that is what I do. I'm afraid that if I actually watched these lying scumbags, I'd kick a hole in my expensive TV :)

I think the board should add a new forum for people to relate what Tweety said, what O-Donell said, what O-really said, etc.

Then, folks who are interested in that shit can go look at it.

I do like to keep track of the "talking points", I just don't need 40 threads in GD telling me the same thing. And let's face it, if one of them says it, they all say it. It's so bloody transparent what they are doing it makes me sad to realize that so many Americans are stupid enough to fall for it.

[Catch22Dem]

21. My job isn't to counter their bullshit

All I need to know are the facts. I don't get that shit from cable news.

[JeffR]

25. Hate to be a jerk but

Countering their bullshit is going to be an essential part of taking the country back from the fRepublicans. Not pretty, but true.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

15. On the other hand - it helps when we e-mail them when they are a-holes.

We do have to keep an eye on them.

[Catch22Dem]

19. I honestly can't think of a single time when it's helped

If it has, then why are they consistently WORSE. Why did CNN hire Glenn Beck? No, we're not making a dent. :(

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

22. It Hasn't

The only thing IMO that would help, is if everyone who disagreed with them, just tuned it out completely. Their ratings would certainly suffer, even if only a percentage, but it would have an effect, as would boycotting any advertisers on the network shows, for an extended period of time.

But if you can't get people to give up watching, then it's only going to engage them more, and when the result is guys like Beck getting hired, it obviously is not working.

[Catch22Dem]

18. Cable news has made me a better guitarist over the years

I used to be addicted. I'd switch channels faster than Quick Draw McGraw. Then, I quit watching and played more guitar instead. I must say, it's made a difference in my playing skills!

[magellan]

23. We blocked all cable news stations from our channel lineup after Katrina

We don't watch CBS/NBC/ABC nightly news programs either. And you know what? Not suffering the opinionated, one-sided crap they all sell as "news" makes me very happy.

[thefloyd]

24. You are so right

I quick watching a long time ago and my emotional well being is all the better for NOT WATCHING

[Berry Cool]

26. I will never give up Olbermann.

However, I think I'm going to have to stop having Tweety on even for background noise beforehand. Dear Lord, right now he has the unholy trio: Joe Scarborough, Rita Cosby and Tucker Carlson--all recently screwed out of their Friday-night show spots by Rick Kaplan's desire to chase ratings with prison documentaries instead--on HIS show, and he is calling them "Hardball Hot Shots."

He asks them what they think of the news of the week, and they all parrot the Repug party line. "Hillary Clinton...EEEVIL. Osama bin Laden...only slightly less EEVUL." :puke: Hot Shots? Cold Sh*ts is more like it.

I believe from now on, I will turn on my TV only at the crack of 8 ET.

[thefloyd]

29. Olbermann is definitely the man

I always supported tweety until last night. Michael Moore/Bin Laden comment was the first and last straw for me.

[Nightjock]

32. You will feel much better.

I guarentee it. You will wonder why you tortured yourself for so long.
They are all liars. Look at Ambramhoff!!!! They all still say Democrats recieved money!

They call themselves "reporters"? A grade school child could look up the facts and know that is NOT TRUE! They are a bunch of bullshit artists and p****** afraid of right wing calls, letters and boycotts.

So they choose TO NOT TELL THE TRUTH INSTEAD!!!!!

[0007]

40. My cable connection for the internet is the best and fastest

I won't give it up!

[guidod]

27. I just got my one year chip

for being clean from watching TV news. It's strictly my computer and newspapers.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

28. No Hardball tonight

calm. breathing normally. blood pressure seems lower. Don't seem any less informed than I was at 6:59. in fact I feel strangely serene, this will be almost 2 days without hearing the word "plantation". I could definitely get used to this.

[we can do it]

30. How About Stop Watching TV - It Rots Your Mind

[Nightjock]

33. You're right but...

a little bit of junk food for the mind is ok.

[Catchawave]

31. "Except" for Keith Olbermann!

Really, if we don't support the good guys:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10945721/

"Good Night and Good Luck" good guys :hi:

[ginnyinWI]

36. I know I'm in the minority here about KO, but

is he really all that liberal? I mean, his stock in trade seems to be to have a snarky attitude about just about everyone. We like it when he bashes the right, but is he really on the left? I find my time is much better spend watching something more slow-paced, but at the same time more content-filled, like Newshour or Charlie Rose.

[DeepModem Mom]

35. I disagree. I don't want to be deluded into thinking...

that America gets its news as we do here at DU. While I'm thankful I have this resource, America does not get its news here, and that is a problem we must be fully aware of. When I'm away from DU for a period of time, I have an entirely different view of what's going on in the US, and in the rest of the world.

I agree, however, that it's better for one's emotional well-being, and blood pressure, to turn off cable news!

[GreenPoet64]

37. Cancelled my cable the day after the 04 elections. . . have not

missed it--not at all!

[Southsideirish]

38. I get my news on the 'net and watch tv for movies and sports. I never

watch the news - WAY too biased for me.

[sandyd921]

39. Put your money into

a high-speed internet connection instead of cable or satellite TV. You can stream all kinds of news content like C-Span, BBC, CBC, and soon IWT. I was curious about the Canadian elections today and streamed "The National" Canada's major news broadcast today. That plus reliable internet sites, Air America (if you don't have a station where you are, streaming works well), and other progressive radio and you get all the news and progressive views that a liberal news junkie would ever want IMO.

:toast:

[pa28]

41. There is no reason to watch it. It's not even news.

P.S. If you can't bring yourself to go cold turkey at least quit watching "Hardball".

[Angry Girl]

42. The only good thing a TV screen is good for is DDR!

Oh, and playing movies. The rest is 98% crap.

Your mileage may vary....

[farmboxer]

43. I rarely watch CNN, etc., but someone should keep an eye on

them when they out and out lie to excess, so they can be e-mailed, written or called. It's not easy to watch CNN, MSNBC and I never watch FOX, less bias at the Republican headquarters there! Still, they need to be informed of the anger out there, that there are more Democrats, Independents, Greens, etc., than Republicans, plus, there seem to be fewer Republicans than ever, so many people I know that voted for Bush say they will never vote for a damned Republican again! If the Republican mainstream corporate right wing news media only gets good main from the right wing Nazis, they will get even worse, if that's possible. Dems should let the biased media know what we think. I get so angry if I do watch, but it keeps my anger up, Hell, I will vote if I have to crawl to the polls.

[hangloose]

44. I stopped watching two years ago and seem to be more

informed about the state of the world than most of my colleges. I watch every once in a while for someting to yell at as entertainment.